Articles tagged with: Revlimid
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Results from a retrospective Canadian study indicate that combination therapy with Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone is effective for certain heavily pretreated multiple myeloma patients. The findings show that nearly 50 percent of patients with advanced myeloma respond to the three-drug therapy.
The study investigators point out that although most patients with advanced myeloma progress quickly after therapy with Revlimid (lenalidomide), Velcade (bortezomib), and dexamethasone (Decadron), particularly those with high-risk myeloma, some patients experience a “considerable benefit.”
They also note that side effects in this heavily pretreated patient population are …
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The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has updated its guidelines for the treatment of multiple myeloma, and the new guidelines will be interpreted by many as a vote of confidence for Revlimid maintenance therapy.
The NCCN guidelines are followed closely by physicians and by many U.S. health insurance companies, which frequently use them when making reimbursement decisions about different cancer treatments.
The guidelines are comprised of recommendations based on the results of recent clinical trials and ongoing scientific research. A panel of specialists within the myeloma field is responsible for updating the …
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Results of a recent, small German study show that donor stem cell transplantation followed by Revlimid maintenance therapy may be feasible in heavily pretreated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients.
“For younger and fit patients, [donor] stem cell transplantation followed by maintenance therapy with [Revlimid] is a reasonable treatment option for patients who have already relapsed [after an autologous stem cell transplant],” said Dr. Nicolaus Kröger of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany and lead investigator of the study.
Dr. Philip McCarthy of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, …
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Phase 1 Trial Of All-Oral Ricolinostat-Revlimid-Dexamethasone Combo Begins – Acetylon Pharmaceuticals announced last week the initiation of a Phase 1b clinical trial of ricolinostat (ACY-1215) in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Ricolinostat is an oral treatment that belongs to a family of anti-cancer drugs called HDAC inhibitors. Other HDAC inhibitors under investigation for multiple myeloma include Zolinza (vorinostat) and panobinostat. Acetylon believes that ricolinostat could produce fewer side effects than other non-specific HDAC inhibitors, as it selectively inhibits the enzyme HDAC6. The primary aim of the trial is to establish an optimal dose of ricolinostat over a 28-day treatment cycle and to assess the potential anti-myeloma activity of the three-drug combination. In addition, Acetylon is enrolling patients for a Phase 1/2 trial of ricolinostat in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma. For more information on both trials, please see the Acetylon press release and the U.S. clinical trial registry.
Lucatumumab Shows Modest Activity As Single Agent In Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma – Results from a recent Phase 1 study indicate that lucatumumab, an antibody developed by Novartis, is well tolerated in relapsed or refractory myeloma patients; however, the compound only showed modest activity in the study participants. Specifically, 4 percent of patients maintained a partial response for a period of eight months or longer, and 43 percent maintained stable disease. The most common severe side effects included anemia (7 percent), chills (7 percent), and fever (7 percent). Side effects severe enough to limit drug dosage were seen in about 10 percent of patients. Based on these results, the researchers recommend that lucatumumab be tested in combination with other anti-myeloma drugs. For more information, please see the study in the British Journal of Hematology (abstract).
Viracept-Velcade Combo Kills Myeloma Cells Better Than Either Drug Alone – Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have found that a combination of the anti-HIV drug Viracept (nelfinavir) and Velcade kills myeloma cells better than either drug alone in a preclinical study. Viracept belongs to a class of drugs called protease inhibitors and was approved by the FDA to treat HIV in 1997. Both Viracept and Velcade limit a cell’s ability to chop up and discard unwanted proteins. Simultaneous treatment with both drugs resulted in an accumulation of such unwanted proteins in the cell, eventually resulting in cell death. For more information, please refer to the study in Cell Death and Disease.
Opinion»
After my sister Deana, who has multiple myeloma, struggled with an infection for much of June, we are all grateful that July was a much quieter month.
I should say that Deana felt my coverage of her cold and emergency room visit in last month’s column was an overly dramatic retelling. I stand by my version of events, even if I wasn’t in Pittsburgh with Deana to witness all of it firsthand. Perception is reality, and I perceived it as a bad situation.
On Saturday, July 14, Deana and her nine-year …
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Results from a recent retrospective study confirm that treatment with a combination of Revlimid and dexamethasone slows disease progression and improves survival in elderly patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma.
However, findings from the study also indicate that certain side effects, such as anemia and blood clots, occurred more frequently in elderly patients.
Novel agents such as Revlimid (lenalidomide), thalidomide (Thalomid), and Velcade (bortezomib) are commonly used to treat relapsed and refractory myeloma.
A previous study found that Revlimid in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) is effective in patients …
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The results of a recent Greek study indicate that kidney impairment is highly reversible in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated with regimens containing Velcade, thalidomide, and Revlimid.
Additionally, the Greek researchers found that Velcade (bortezomib)-based treatments were associated with a shorter time to response and higher rates of restoration of kidney function than thalidomide (Thalomid)- and Revlimid (lenalidomide)-based regimens.
Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that Velcade be used as initial therapy for myeloma patients with kidney impairment.
Dr. Baldeep Wirk of the University of Florida, who …